Sand-mixing apparatus



H. L. WADSWORTH. SAND MIXING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 5. 1920.

Patmliy'ed @013. 3, 1922.

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EDWARD L. WADSWORTH, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

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application filed February 5, 1920. Serial No. 3 56,493.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD L. WAnswonrrr, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Guyahoga, and State ofOhio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sand-MixingApparatus, of which the following is a specification, the principle ofthe invention being herein explained and the best ,mode in which I havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from otherinventions.

The present invention relates to an improved sand mixing apparatusintended for the intimate mixing of the various types of sand, which areused when mixed for facing sand and core sand in foundries. At thepresent time it is common practice to mix the variousgrades of sandeither by shoveling them together and then shoveling the sand over andover until a suitable mixture is secured, or by charging various kindsof sand into a large hopper, in which there are heavy revolving rollswhich act to grind.

and mix the different types of sand together. The first method isobjectionable because of the difficulty of securing laborers, and alsobecause of the expense, while the second method'involves a largeinvestment in an apparatus which has a very small capacity at one time,and is primarily intended to grind and not mix materials.

The present invention consists of a simple and inexpensive apparatusprovided with means for intimately mixing the various grades of sandvery much more thoroughly than possible by hand shoveling and very muchmore cheaply than is possible by means of the present type of apparatus.To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such dis-' closed meansconstituting, however, but one of the various mechanical forms in whichthe principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved apparatus;and Fig. 2 is a transverse central section.

My improved apparatus consists of a carrier in the form of a rotarytable 1, upon which the sand to be mixed is charged. This rotary tableis mounted upon. suitable supports or hearings in the form of a circulartrack 2 and is provided with rollers 01';

wheels 3 mounted to operate upon this track. It is driven at arelatively slow speed by means of a central vertical shaft 4, which maybe operated from any suitable source of power. I

Surrounding the table. 1 is a retaining wall or casing f), having aclose fit against the sides of the table. Mounted above the table, andbetween the central axis of the "same and the retaining wall 5 is a sandmixing and distributing element, which I have shown in the form of twoshafts 9 and 10, each of which is provided with arms 7 carrying radiallyarranged blades 8. Each of the two shafts 9 and 10 extend above thelevel of the walls 5 where they are operated simultaneously, but inopposite directions by means of bevel gears 11, 12, 13 and 14, of whichthe bevel gears 13 and 14 are carried on a single driving shaft 15. Theblades 8 on the shafts are so arranged as to overlap each other, asindicated in Fig. 1, that is, the blades of each element in theirrotation will just clear the arms on the other shaft. At their outersides the blades will just clear the central driving shaft 4 of thetable'and the retaining wall 5, and thus extend entirely across the pathof movement of the sand which is carried by the table.

The table is rotated at a relatively slow speed, and sand may bedelivered on to the table through a chute 16 formed in a cover 17, whichextends across the entire top of the retaining wall 5, and substantiallyencloses the table and sand-mixing elements or cylinders. The sandnnxingrylinders are operated at a relatively high speed and are designedto cut successive, thin slices of sand from off the advancing edge ofthe sand pile carried on the table. These two slices of sand are thenpassed between the centers of the two cylinders at high speed and arethrown forward onto the rotary table, much of the sand striking againstthe retaining wall 5 when so thrown. As the sand leaves the cylinderblades it would naturally tend to spread over a wide area if it were notfor the retaining wall 5, which deflects the sand and causes it to bespread circularly around that portion of the table,

which is in advance of the sand-cutting cylinders. The action of thecylinders is to distribute each slice of sand cut from the advancingpile on the table over this wide area, and in this way an extremelyintimate mixture of the various types of sand used can be obtained.

When the sand is mixed it can be discharged from the apparatus through aport 19 formed in the retaining Wall 5, and normally closed by means ofa'hinged portion 20 of the wall. This hinged portion is constructed toswing over the table, but in substantial contact therewith, and thusserves the double purpose of a cover or door for the port in the wall,and also a deflecting plate or guide to direct the sand out through theopen port in-the side of the casing upon the continued rotation of thetable. The table may be emptied of sand in one revolution, by means ofthis deflecting plate 20, after which the deflecting plate may be closedand more sand charged into the machine for mix-ing. But very littlepower is required to operate this apparatus as the table is operated ata relatively slow speed. While the cylinders are operated at high speedvery .little sand is picked up and thrown forwardly by each individualblade becauseof the high speed of these blades and the slow speed of thetable, that is, very thin slices are cut off from the advancing sandpile on the table by each blade.

The action of my apparatus is to cut a vertical section from the sandpile and then spread this vertical section or slice horizontally over avery much enlarged area on the table. In this way the sand is thoroughlymixed since no two adjacent particles will ever remain in contact underthe high speed action of the blades.

Any suitable operating means may be employed for actuating the cuttingcylinders and the table. For convenience I employ a single motor 30driving a shaft 31 through pulleys 32 and 33 and a belt connection 34.The shaft 31 carries a worm 35 engaged with a worm gear 36 on the shaft4,- which rotates the table. The shaft 31 also drives a vertical shaft37 through bevel gears 38 and 39 and the last-named shaft rotates theshaft 15 through other bevel gears 40 and 41.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as retable and extendingin one radial line from the center to one side thereof, said cylindersextending across substantially the entire path of movement of the sandon said table, and means adapted to rotate said cylinders oppositely athigh speed to mix and distribute the sand.

2. In a sand mixing apparatus, the combination of a horizontallydisposed rotary table adapted to receive and move sand depositedthereon, a plurality of vertically disposedcylinders mounted above saidtable upon a radial line from the center to one side thereof and havingtheir lower ends extending into close working association with saidtable, a plurality of blades comprised in said cylinders, the blades ofadjacent cylinders being spaced so as to alternately intersect therespective paths of movement of the opposite blades, and means adaptedto rotate said cylinders in directions opposite to each other.

- 3. In a sand mixing apparatus, the com:

bination of a stationary vertically disposed retaining wall, ahorizontally disposed cirfrom said cover plate and having their lowerends in close working association with said table, said cyllnders beingspaced so as to extend across substantially-the entire path.

of movement of the sand on said table, and means adapted to rotate saidcylinders in'directions opposite to each other.

Signed by me at Cleveland, Ohio, this 29" day of January, 1920.

HOWARD L. WADswoRTH.

